Electric current rectifier



(kit, 8, 1935. 0. sm-z ELECTRIC CURRENT RECTIFIER Filed Oct. 29, 1929Patented Dot. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC CURRENTRECTIFIER zerland Application October 29, 1929, Serial No. 403,280

In Germany November 8, 1928 4 Claims. (01. 250-215) This inventionrelates to improvements in electric current rectifiers of the metallicvapor type and, more particularly, to the construction about the inletsthrough the top plate of such rectifiers adapted to receive the anodesthereof.

Heretofore, it has been considered necessary to separate the operativespace about the anodes of an electric power rectifier from theinoperative space as completely as possible by sealing the are guidesagainst the insulators surrounding the anode conductor. Such sealing orclosure, however, requires a complicated construction in order toequalize the action of the heat on the various portions and variousmaterials and the insulator for the anode supply conductor is likewisecomplicated thereby. It hasusually been considered necessary tointerpose a packing of heat-resistive material between the anode properand the lower surface of the insulator for the purpose of obtaininguniform contact between the two portions and of sealing the operativespace against the exterior inoperative space. Such packing wasnecessarily compressed with considerable force between the anode and theinsulator so that, due to such pressure the insulator was severelystressed mechanically in addition to the thermal stresses produced bythe temperatures encountered within such rec- It is, accordingly, amongthe objects of the present invention to provide an anode inlet structurefor electric power rectifiers in which a closure of the operative spacefrom the inoperative space of the rectifier will be unnecessary.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an anode inletstructure in which the operative portion about the anode of an electricpower rectifier will be indirectly connected with the inoperativeportion thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide for an indirectconnection between the operative space about the anodes of a metallicarc rectifier with the inoperative space in such manner that a constantupward flow of metallic fluid is maintained in the operative space andthat it will be impossible for condensed metallic fluid, dropping fromthe upper portions of the connection structure, to contact with theanode or with the enclosure thereabout.

Objects and advantages, other than those above set forth, will beapparent from the following description and the drawing in which,

Figure 1 is a partial cross sectional view of an electric powerrectifier showing an embodiment of the improved inlet structure for ananode.

Fig. 2 is a modified form of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a further modification of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, s

Fig. 4 is an embodiment, shown partially in sec- 5 tion, of an anodeinlet for a metallic vapor rectifier in which the enclosure surroundingthe anode is insulated from the rectifier structure, and

Fig. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view similar to those previouslydescribed, but showing a modi- 10 fled form of the embodiment shown inFig. 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawing by characters of reference,the reference numeral 6 indicates a portion of the usual top or covermember for an electric power rectifier of the metallic 15 vapor type.The top portion 6 is usually pierced by a plurality of apertures throughwhich anodes l are arranged to extend. The anodes l are retained in aflanged closure member 8 which is supported in insulated relation fromthe top 0 by 20 an insulating member 9. The joints between the closuremember 8 and the insulating member 3 and between the insulating member 9and the top 6 are sealed by sealing rings I 0, l l which may be of anysuitable construction but are preferably formed of heat-resistivematerial.

7 Each of the anodes I is enclosed by an arc guide I3. In the embodimentshown in Fig. 1, the arc guide I3 is maintained in position andconnected with the top plate 6 by means of an intermediate 30 member H5in the form of a flanged cylinder having a substantially conicalinwardly extending flange H. The connection member 16 is also providedwith a plurality of apertures 18 through the circumferential portionthereof for a purpose which will appear hereinafter. A shield ordeflecting member having a sleeve portion i9 is fitted about the upperportion of the anode in contact with the closure member 8, the deflectormember being at the bottom portion thereof in the form of an outwardlyextending cone 20 having its truncated apex portion connected with thesleeve l9. During operation of the rectifier, a continuous current ofmetallic fluid flows through the arc guide l3 in an upwardly directionand discharges into the inoperative spaces of the rectifier throughapertures It. Any of the metallic vapor condensed in the upper portionsof the structure will drop on the conical flange 20 and the conicalflange l1 and will be discharged through the apertures l8 from which thecondensed material will return to its sources.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 2 is similar to that above described withthe exception that the connection member I6 is formed with a pluralityof inwardly extending conical flanges l'l arranged one above the otherand a plurality of discharge apertures or ports l8. The sleeve portionl9 likewise diifers from that above described relative to Fig. 1 in thata plurality of conical flanges 2B are provided thereon. The severalconical flanges ll of the connection member and the several conicalflanges 20 are arranged in an interleaved relation so that a type oflabyrinth gland is formed which entirely precludes the possibility ofcondensed metallic vapor falling or dropping upon the anode 1 or uponthe interior surfaces of the arc guide l3.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment similar to that shown in Fig. 1, with thedifference, however, that the sleeve I9 is arranged to enclose anannular space about the upper portion of the anode itself and thedischarge ports l8 are each provided with a discharge spout 2i for thepurpose of conducting the condensed metallic materialfarther beyond theexterior surface of the arc guide than was possible in the embodimentspreviously described, thereby safe-guarding against the contacting ofcondensed metallic material with the exterior surfaces of the areguides.

It may be desirable to form the member intermediate the arc guide l3 andthe top 6 of insulating material rather than of conductive material, inwhich case the structure will assume the form shown in Fig. 4. Thesubstitution of an insulating shield for the metallic shield I9, 20 mayalso be desirable, in which case the insulating shield is formed as aninsulating sleeve 22, having an outwardly extending conical flange 23arranged above the inwardly extending flange l'ia of the connectionmember. The connection member may likewise be provided with a conicalflange 24 formed below ports l.8a therethrough, exteriorly of theconnection member, for the purpose of discharging the metalliccondensate collected on the flange Ila at a point away from the exteriorsurface of the are guides, to prevent the formation of so-called cathodespots thereon which would permit back-firing in the rectifier.

Although but a few embodiments of this inven tion have been illustratedand described, it will be understood that various other embodiments arepossible and that various changes may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In metallic vapor current-rectifying apparatus, an anode, a structuredisposed about said anode for receiving the vapor particles andpermitting free flow of the same about and in contacting relation withsaid anode, and means disposed within said structure and above saidanode for receiving the vapor particles after the same have passedbeyond said anode, said means being shaped and disposed to conduct thereceived vapor and any condensate thereof laterally outwardly from saidanode and to discharge such Vapor and condensate exteriorly of saidstructure.

2. In metallic vapor current-rectifying apparatus, an anode, structuredisposed about said anode for receiving the vapor particles andpermitting of free flow of the same about and in contacting relationwith said anode, and means disposed between said' anode and saidstructure forming a free and unobstructed passage for flow of vaporparticles thereinto after the same have passed beyond said anode, thesaid means providing a trap for condensate of the vapor formed thereinand having a passage for discharging such condensate laterally outwardlyfrom said anode exteriorly of said structure.

3. In metallic vapor current-rectifying apparatus, an anode, a structuredisposed about said anode for receiving the vapor particles andpermitting free flow of the same about and in contacting relation withsaid anode, said structure provided with a discharge opening permittingfree and unobstructed flow of said vapor therefrom after passage beyondsaid anode, and means for receiving said vapor comprising complementarymembers extending laterally outwardly from said opening and inwardlyfrom said structure and forming a tortuous path for conducting suchvapor and any condensate thereof therethrough for discharge exteriorlyof said structure.

4. In an electric power rectifier of the metallic fluid type having ametallic tank, anodes extending through apertures through the tank,means supporting said anodes and sealing the apertures, are guidessurrounding said anodes and formed to produce an upward flow of metallicfluid therethrough, said guides having a plurality of apertures to formescape ports for fluid condensed therein, means for preventing thereturn of condensed fluid through the are guides and having a portionthereof so formed as to cause condensed fluid to be discharged throughsaid ports beyond the outer surfaces of said guides.

OSKAR SEITZ.

